12 Rescued From Top of Universal Roller Coaster

167-foot Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit stuck for hours
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 10, 2013 2:05 AM CDT
12 Rescued from Top of Universal Roller Coaster
Visitors on the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit.   (AP Photo/Universal Orlando Resort, Matt Stroshane)

A Universal Orlando roller coaster called the city's tallest got stuck last night, leaving 12 people high and dry for several hours before authorities rescued them. Firefighters were contacted at about 7pm; two hours later, they began using ropes and harnesses to reach those at the top of the 167-foot-tall Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, WKMG reports. All were rescued by 9:45, the Orlando Sentinel notes; one rider was hospitalized with neck pain.

The cause of the problem isn't yet clear, says Universal, noting that the ride, which reaches 65mph, halted automatically. It closed afterward, but if technicians solve the problem, it could be open again as soon as today. This summer, the ride was closed for two days after a rider received minor injuries when her car stopped, the Sentinel reports. (More Universal Orlando Resort stories.)

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